Browsed byMonth: December 2016

Lobbying by food industry means Canada food labels won’t list ‘added sugar’ There are 152 ways to say “sugar” on a food label. It can be called isomaltulose, agave, barley malt, sorghum or brown rice syrup, even potato syrup solids. All of those obscure synonyms will be listed in one convenient place on the food label, behind the word “sugar,” as Health Minister Jane Philpott announced Wednesday. But you will still never know how much of that sugar was deliberately…

When Dr. Christopher Callahan examines older patients, he often hears a similar refrain. “I’m tired, doctor. It’s hard to get up and about. I’ve been feeling kind of down, but I know I’m getting old and I just have to live with it.” This fatalistic stance relies on widely-held but mistaken assumptions about what constitutes “normal aging.” In fact, fatigue, weakness and depression, among several other common concerns, aren’t to-be-expected consequences of growing older, said Callahan, director of the Center…

With the many winter holidays upon us, one of the great challenges is maintaining a healthy diet. Choosing healthier options helps many of us ward off extra pounds, but for those with cancer it is crucial to overall health. If you are undergoing cancer treatment, such as chemotherapy or radiation, you need extra nutrients to help maintain your energy and keep you feeling strong. Even if your appetite has waned, you still need to make good food choices that fuel…

A review of more than 1,000 studies has found a link between excess weight and eight new types of cancer. Scientists have eight more reasons for you to watch what you eat. A review of more than 1,000 studies has found a link between excess weight and eight new types of cancer. They include cancers of the stomach, liver, gall bladder, pancreas, ovary, thyroid, meningioma brain tumors and multiple myeloma. The studies were analyzed by the World Health Organization’s International…

Girls learn to talk earlier, use sentences earlier, and tend to read quicker than boys. A study found that if your face suggests that you’re alert and slightly happy, people are more likely to perceive you as intelligent. Thinking burns calories. Your brain is constantly rewriting and editing your memories. Your brain is constantly rewriting and editing your memories. Physical touch makes you healthier. Studies show that massages, hugs, and hand-holding reduces stress and boosts the…

Men and women are different. There are some good biological reasons for that. Studies of brain scans of men and women show that women tend to use both sides of their brain because they have a larger corpus callosum. This is the bridge between the two hemispheres of the brain and allows women to share information between those two halves of the brain faster than men. Men tend to use the left side of the brain which is the more…

Electronic devices, such as smartphones and computers, are a necessity of day-to-day life; but that reliance on devices may be taking a toll on Canadians’ mental health. A new survey by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) suggests, on average, Ontario adults spend more than 11 hours per week using social media or communicating via email, and nearly four hours per week playing screen-based games. That’s 15 hours a week not including the amount of time spent on…

I know you want to get rid of anxiety. Keep in mind that anxiety can be treated in the short term, but long-term treatment and practice of new skills is what it takes to get rid of anxiety altogether. Let’s discuss eleven activities that can get rid of anxiety in the long term. Get Rid of Anxiety With These Coping Skills Trying to get rid of anxiety? Here are eleven activities that can help you get rid of anxiety forever!…

Upbeat outlook linked to lower risk of dying from cancer, heart disease and other causes, study says Women who generally believe that good things will happen may live longer. That’s the suggestion of a new study that seems to affirm the power of positive thinking. “This study shows that optimism is associated with reduced risk of death from stroke, respiratory disease, infection and cancer,” said Eric Kim, co-lead author of the investigation. “Optimistic people tend to act in healthier ways….

Stress. It’s that slap-in-the-face feeling you get when there are too many demands, too many people to please, and too little time to get it all done. This is not a pleasant or productive state to be in. Sure, a little stress can be motivating and even energizing, but even working best under pressure has its limits. Eventually, it becomes physically, mentally, and emotionally draining. When you reach that point, you don’t want to do anything. You’re tense, on edge,…